The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Heroic McLaughlin Collects Honors For Memphis Heroics
10/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 17, 2005
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Jason McLaughlin's Saturday night heroics have garnered national attention for the UAB men's soccer program. McLaughlin has been named Conference USA's Offensive Player of the Week, Top Drawer Soccer's National Player of the Week and to College Soccer News's National Team of the Week for the week ending Oct. 16. McLaughlin is the first UAB men's soccer player to gain C-USA weekly honors this year. He is the second Blazer to be named to the CSN weekly honor, joining teammate Leandro de Oliveira who made the squad on Sept. 12. He is UAB's first-ever Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week, but joins de Oliveira as members of the publication's National Team of the Week.
"Jason McLaughlin is one of those players you wish you had 20 of as a coach," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "Not only is he a fantastic soccer player and very deserving of national recognition for his talents, but he has the heart of a champion. For him to do what he did Saturday night shows that he is a special individual and we are thankful both Conference USA and College Soccer News have recognized that."
McLaughlin scored the game-winning goal with :51 remaining Saturday night to lift UAB to a 2-1 win over C-USA rival Memphis. The contest was a rematch of last season's league tournament championship game that Memphis won, 3-2. McLaughlin played hero in more ways that one, however. He left the match in the 21st minute with a gash over his right eye, received three staples to close the wound at an area hospital, returned by halftime and was there for the game-winning goal.
For the year, McLaughlin leads the team in scoring with four goals and five assists for 13 points. The senior from Wetumpka, Ala., was a Conference USA All-Tournament team selection a year ago.
